Rheostat



R. W. EBELING.

RH EOSTAT'. APPLICATION FILED SEPT-1'8. I917.

1,329 1 6'7, Patented Jan. 27,1920.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2- HUH HI'W fBELIN UNITED STAT an union.

ROBERT W. EBELING, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIG-NOR TO B. W. EBELING COMPANY, INCORPORATED, A. CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

RHEOSTAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 27, 192a.

Application filed September 18, 1911.7. Serial No. 191,951.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, ROBERT W. EBELING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rheostats, of which the following is a specification. This invention is a device for controlling illuminating circuits.

quently desirable to produce various shades and combinations of color, and to vary the same without the transition from one to the other being apparent or inharmonious. In

theory, if two lights of equal intensity illuminate the same surface and are respectively increased and diminished 10% of said intensity the resulting illumination would not be changed. However, in practice this is found to be untrue and that the exact ratio is not maintained. One object of the invention is to provide a means for accomplishing this result by increasing or diminishing the intensityof light rays from differently colored incandescent lights.

| A further object of the invention is to provide means for adjusting two circuits to a predetermined ratio.

The invention will be hereinafter fully 80 set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical central section of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a plan view 85 of the same; Fig. 3 a diagrammatic view showing the control and operation of same. Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a container having a U-shaped partition 2, within its walls, forming two vertical members or cells 3, which are connected by a port 4. In the centers of said cells are guide posts 6, upon which are slidably mounted cylinders 7, of hard rubber or like non-conductive material, around which are wound coils 8, of resistance wire, each cylinder having the resistance of a separate circuit coiled about its outer surface and exposed to the action of mercury 9, or like conductive fluid. Upon the surface of the mercury is a portion 11 of oil, the function of which is to prevent th' escape by vaporization or otherwise of the mercury.

Through the upper ends of the cylinders 7 are extended bolts 12, having vents 13 for '6 the, escape of air as the cylinders are re- In the lighting effect of signs, it is fI'G.

ciprocated on the posts 6. The upper ends of said bolts are pivoted, as shown at 14, to links 16 which are pivoted to the outer ends of bars 17 the other ends of said bars being secured in insulators 18. The said insulators engage respectively, the two ends of a transverse bar 19, which is pivoted at its center as shown at 21, to a post 22, integral with a cover 23, resting on the upper surfaces of the U-shaped wall 2. Integral with the post 22 is a forked extension 24 in which is pivoted a solenoid 26, adapted to reciprocate the bar 19, at the will of an operator at some remote place. The said solenoid has a central wire 27 and end wires 28 and 29. As the operator closes the circuit between 27 and 28, the upper portion of the solenoid is energized and causesone of the cylinders 7 pivoted to the bar 19, to move upwardly and the other cylinder to move downwardly. When the operator closes the circuit between wires 27 and 29 the movement 1s reversed.

The coils 8 are increased in frequency as they near the bottom and as the'resistance 1s reciprocally raised and lowered in the mercury the circuit emerging from the liquid is accelerated and the circuit immersing is dimmed so that the hue or shade of a secondary color can be changed at will by the amount of resistance given the circuits of the rimaries.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described an operative manner of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the forms of its use, the following is claimed 1. A circuit controlling device comprising a container, a conducting li uid therein, a resistance element ositione to be immersed within said liquld, an operating bar to which said resistance element is attached, and electromagnetic means for actuating said bar. v

2. A circuit controlling device comprising a container provided with chambers, a conducting liquid within said chambers, movable resistance elements positioned tobe immersed within said liquid, and means for withdrawing either. resistance element from the liquid as the other is immersed therein.

3. A circuit controlling device comprisoperatin ing a container provided with chambers, a conducting liquid within said chambers, resistance elements positioned to be immersed within the liquid in the respective chambers, a pivotally supported operating bar having its ends connected with said resistance elements, and means for rocking said bar.

4. A clrcuit controllingdevice comprising a container provided with chambers, a conducting liquid within said chambers, guide members located within said chambers, movable resistance members telescoping with said guide members and positioned to be immersed within the liquid in the respective chambers, and means for withdrawing either resistance element from the liquid as the other is immersed therein.

5. A circuit controlling device comprising a container provided with chambers, a conducting liquid within said chambers, guide 7 members located within said chambers, movable lGSlStflIlCe members telescoping with sand guide members and positioned to be 1m mersed within the liquid in the respective chambers, a pivotally supported operating bar having its ends connected with said resistance. elements, and means for rocking said operating bar.

6. A circuit controlling device comprising a container provided with spaced apart chambers, conducting liquid within said chambers, a support between said chambers, an operating bar pivoted to said support, resistance elements suspended from the ends of said bar and positioned to be immersed within the liquid in the respective chambers, and means for rocking said bar.

7. A circuit controlling device comprising a container, a fluid therein, a resistance element varying progressively in degree and position to be innnersed in its progressive direction in said liquid, and means for moving said element to vary its depth in said liquid.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ROBERT EBELING. 

